Zhang wins Beijing Open

On the 17th hole during the final round of the Earls Beijing Open, China’s Xin Jun Zhang went from chasing to the guy everybody was trying to catch. Zhang made a birdie on the second-to-last hole, while leader, New Zealander Mathew Perry, made a triple bogey, and that four-shot swing gave Zhang the title over Perry and helped Zhang make PGA TOUR China Series history.

Zhang’s win was the first by a China-born player.

Through 15 holes, Zhang had remained right behind Perry, by a stroke, as the two players both birdied No. 15. After a pair of pars by Zhang and Perry on No. 16, Perry purposely didn’t hit driver off the 17th tee. His strategy was that he wanted to be the first hitting his approach from the fairway into the par-4 to “put pressure on my opponents.” But Perry pushed his drive right, and when he couldn’t locate his ball in the deep rough, he had to return to the tee to hit his thirdshot.

“It was unfortunate,” Perry said of his lost ball. “But I wouldn’t change the decision, and this result is going to give me a lot of motivation to come back and win.”

After Perry determined his ball was lost, Zhang was the one who put on the pressure when he hit his approach shot to three feet and made the birdie putt, all but sealing the victory after Perry’s stumble. “Finally, I did it,” Zhang celebrated, noting he turned 27 earlier this week. “This championship is the best birthday gift for me.”

Ryan Haller and Scott Barr led the Australians when they shared 7th position.

About the Author: Bruce Young

A multi-award winning golf journalist, Bruce's extensive knowledge of the game comes from several years caddying the tournament circuits of the world, marketing a successful golf course design company and as one of Australia's leading golf journalists and commentators.